Tigers and Bulldogs to Square Off in Greenville Wednesday Night

Feb. 15, 2005

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This is the second game of a four-game four-year series betweenClemson and Georgia. The two teams played in Atlanta last year atPhilips Arena and will compete at the BiLo Center in Greenville, SCon Wednesday. The 2005-06 game will be at Athens, and the 2006-07contest will be at Clemson. Clemson freshman Cliff Hammonds isaveraging 10 points per game so far this season, second among ACCfreshmen. Hammonds is trying to become just the eighth first-yearfreshman in Clemson history to average double digits over thecourse of a season, the first since Terrell McIntyre in 1995-96.Clemson is coming off a 83-77 loss to Miami (FL) last Saturday.Clemson held a 35-31 lead at intermission, but lost the game, thefifth time this year Clemson has lost a game after leading at thehalf. Vernon Hamilton became the first player in Clemson history torecord at least 50 steals as a sophomore and a freshman when he hadtwo steals against Miami (FL). He now has exactly 100 in 50 careergames at Clemson. Clemson and Georgia have met on the hardcourt 76times dating back to Jan. 31, 1913 when Georgia handed Clemson itsfirst loss in history. Clemson had won its first seven games beforethe 75-15 loss to Georgia, still the second worst margin of defeatin Clemson history. This will be just the second regular seasonmeeting since 1964-65. Georgia head coach Dennis Felton was anassistant at Clemson for four seasons (1994-95 through 1997-98)under Rick Barnes. Clemson went to an NIT and three NCAATournaments in Felton’s four years with Barnes at Clemson. ShawanRobinson led Clemson in scoring in the loss to Miami (FL) with 21points, the first time he has led Clemson in scoring in an ACC gamethis year. But, it was his second 20-point game in the last three,as he also had 22 points in the win over Maryland on Feb. 1.Robinson has made 12 of 27 three-point shots in the three games sofar in Feb. Clemson must improve its defense in the second half. Inthe 11 ACC games so far this year, the opposition has shot 55percent from the field, including the 67 percent performance byMiami last Saturday. The ACC opposition has failed to improve itsfield goal percentage in the second half just once in the first 11league contests. Clemson improved its free throw shooting againstMiami, hitting 11-15 for 73.3 percent. It broke a streak of ninestraight games without shooting 70 percent for the Tigers, who areat 60.2 percent for the year, last in the ACC. Clemson lastdefeated Georgia in the 1999 NIT, a 77-57 win at Clemson.